Facebook used to rally 100 to stand behind boy being bullied

SALEM, Ore. -- Friday was a rare day when a kid who's been picked on confronted his bully with the support of 100 people who showed up to rally for him.

It started as a single Facebook message posted by Halsey Parkerson's aunt. She went to South Salem High School on Thursday to meet him for lunch. She overheard the bully telling her nephew that he doesn't have any friends and that no one cares.

Halsey told her that it happens all the time. His aunt decided to come back for lunch Friday and through Facebook she invited all of his new friends.

And they came. Car after car showed up until South Salem's parking lot became a traffic jam.

It was all for Halsey after his aunt put the message out on Facebook to one of her car clubs. The message spread, and at least 50 cars, containing probably 100 people, came - some of them as far away as Vancouver.

And that's all it took to make a difference.

"It's just unbelievable," Halsey said. "I now know whenever I get bullied I'll raise my head up and say, 'Sorry, I have too many friends to think I'm being bullied.'"

But even Halsey knew the support was bigger than him. It was for anyone who's ever been bullied.

"If you're being bullied, stand up and express yourself," he said.

The bully was there, too, and with a hundred people standing behind Halsey, the bully had a change of heart. He high-fived Halsey and said: "I apologize. I apologize. I take it back."

The school didn't know about the rally, and it caused quite a commotion at first with all those cars and people showing up. But as soon as the principal learned why it was happening, he let it happen.